BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. - The Concord University women's basketball team has been predicted to finish fifth in the Mountain East Conference in the Preseason Coaches Poll, the league office announced Tuesday afternoon.
THE POLL
| Place |
Team (First Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1. |
Fairmont State (7) |
94 |
| 2. |
West Virginia Wesleyan (1) |
79 |
| 3. |
Glenville State (1) |
78 |
| 4. |
Charleston (2) |
77 |
| 5. |
Concord |
60 |
| 6. |
Frostburg State |
56 |
| 7. |
West Virginia State |
48 |
| T-8. |
West Liberty |
39 |
| T-8. |
Wheeling |
39 |
| 10. |
Point Park |
25 |
| 11. |
Davis & Elkins |
10 |
2024-25 REVIEW
Concord is coming off of a 15-14 (11-9 MEC) season in 2024 that saw them finish fifth in the MEC. CU's season ended in heartbreaking fashion in the MEC Tournament Quarterfinals where it fell to Frostburg State in overtime, 94-87. CU's biggest wins of the season came in back-to-back home games where they trumped eventual MEC Champions Fairmont State, 92-69 and then defeated West Virginia Wesleyan at the buzzer, 74-73. Concord swept second-place West Virginia Wesleyan by winning at the Rockefeller Center in February.
2025-26 SCHEDULE
To start the 2025-26 season, Concord will host Seton Hill and Lock Haven in the MEC-PSAC Challenge on November 14-15. The Mountain Lions remain at home to host Bluefield State on November 19th. Conference play begins on December 3rd with a trip up to Institute to face the West Virginia State Yellow Jackets. The return trip for WVSU will mark the final home game for the Mountain Lions on February 25th. The last game of the regular season is a road matchup against Glenville State on February 28th. The MEC Tournament is from March 4-8 in Wheeling, W.Va.
THE KEY RETURNERS
Heading up the returners for the Mountain Lions is senior forward Abbie Smith who received an All-MEC First Team selection a year ago after averaging a double-double, 17.4 points per game and 10.7 rebounds per game. She is joined by senior guard
Kennedy Scales who added 6.5 ppg to the mix in 2024-25. Rounding out the returning group is junior guard
Alexis Frazee who averaged 6.2 ppg and shot over 40 percent from the field.
THE NEWCOMERS
Concord adds plenty of new talent to the 2025-26 roster, starting with the transfers. Junior forward Cori Barnes arrives from Fort Valley State after averaging 6.1 ppg and 2.5 rpg. She notched a career high of 18 points and four made threes a season ago against Thomas University. Another junior forward
Olivia Ziolkowski transfers in from Marshall University. She didn't see much playing time for the Thundering Herd, but was a high school standout at Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley, West Virginia. Two freshmen to keep your eyes on are guards
Cadence Blackburn and
Nasiya Smith. Smith was named a Class AAAA Honorable Mention after the conclusion of her senior year. They both had impressive high school careers and are soon to suit up for the Maroon and Gray.Â
